Take time to deliberate, but when the time for action has arrived, stop thinking and go in.
- Napoleon

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Christmas Time is Upon Me

Sorry about not posting yesterday, but I did the huge Christmas shopping trip, and I was tuckered out. So even though I didn't post yesterday, please remember this week is the Anniversary Contest.

As I sit here listening to my Kenny Rogers/Dolly Parton Christmas CD, my first batch of cookies is in the oven and the darling daughter is prepping for the next batch. The shopping yesterday kicked me into the yuletide season full force. This year I wasn't really getting into the swing of things, I admit. My house isn't decorated at all, and I didn't want to listen to Christmas music. I just didn't feel like I gave a rip about any of it.

On the hour drive to the closest town with real stores, I heard one Christmas song on the radio and everything seemed to click. Now I'm ready to tackle this year's festivities.

Every year for the past few years, I bake cookies like a woman possessed, then I give them to friends and my husband's co-workers as gifts. Last year we did 7 types of cookies and 2 types of fudge. This year, the plan is to about the same. A few of the recipes have changed, but for the most part it's the same mix of treats: two types of 6-layer bars (one with pecans and the other with walnuts), snickerdoodles, coconut-rum drop cookies, chocolate no-bakes, oatmeal raisin, cream cheese cookies with chocolate chips, chocolate fudge and peanut-butter fudge.

Just to share in the fun, here's my 6-layer bar recipe:

6-layer bars

2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 stick (1/2 cup) butter or margarine (melted)
1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
1 12 oz bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 10 oz bag white chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped nuts (pecans, walnuts, macadamias... whatever you like)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Mix together cracker crumbs and melted butter. Press mixture into the bottom of a 9"x13" ungreased cake pan. Sprinkle coconut evenly over crust. Sprinkle semi-sweet chips over coconut. Pour condensed milk evenly over chips. Sprinkle white chocolate chips over condensed milk. Sprinkle chopped nuts over the top of it all (if you want more nuts, go for it). Bake for 30 minutes or until top layer of chips looks melted. Cool completely (overnight if necessary or refrigerate for 3-4 hours), cut and serve.
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I hope you're getting into the spirit of whichever holiday season you celebrate. It's just not the same if you're not into it.

=oD

3 comments:

Kristen Painter said...

I pretty much finished my Christmas shopping yesterday, except for a few small things. I'm excited about Christmas, seeing my family and getting to hang out with them. I love that!

Now, to wrap. Ugh. I'm not a fan of wrapping but it needs to be done.

I usually do masses of cookies too, but since we're traveling I'm not. I'm okay with that. ;o)

Wendy Roberts said...

I think I've gained weight just READING about Christmas baking LOL. I made sugar cookies with my kidlets yesterday *yum*

WordVixen said...

Man- those bars sound excellent. And I'm sooo in the mood for Christmas baking, but no family to share it with. Hubby isn't into sweets, dad, aunt, uncle, and in-laws diabetic, bro-in-law on a diet, sis-in-law doesn't eat, mom out of state for the season... that leaves my brother and niece and nephews. Co-workers aren't picky enough to make the effort worth it. *sigh*

Heheh, I'm done with my Christmas shopping aside from the gift basket I want to send mom & Grandma. Already wrapped all the gifts that I already have, the rest are on their way.